Principal Engineer 2026

State of Wyoming; Sundance (WY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays

Retirement - Pension and 457B plans

Flexible schedules and work-life balance options

Eligibility for hiring bonus

Job summary

The State of Wyoming seeks a Principal Engineer for their Construction Program in Sundance. This role includes responsibility for highway construction from design to completion, managing a crew of technicians, and ensuring successful project execution.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, a PE License, and 2-4 years of relevant experience. Offering extensive benefits including health insurance and a hiring bonus, this position is a remarkable opportunity for the right individual interested in impactful work in beautiful Wyoming.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of progressive work experience in Engineering with knowledge at the level of a Project Engineer.
• Professional Engineer's (PE) License required at time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for all aspects of highway construction and contract administration.
• Manage and train a crew of technicians and engineers.
• Ensure projects are completed in accordance with plans and specifications.

Skills

Knowledge of engineering fundamentals relating to highway geometrics

Skilled in preparing and delivering technical training

Able to communicate effectively

Able to plan, organize, oversee projects

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

Description and Functions

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) seeks a Principal Engineer for our Construction Program located in Sundance, Wyoming. This position is responsible for all aspects of highway construction and contract administration from design through construction and project record finalization, including reconstruction and maintenance projects for bridges, interstate highways, state highways, county roads, and city streets, public buildings; manage and train a crew of technicians and engineers assisting with the project design and contract administration; work closely with Federal, State, County, and City personnel as well as various utility companies, landowners and the public through all phases of the projects; and apply professional engineering practices to end up with a quality project that is completed timely and within budget without claims or accidents.

Sundance, Wyoming is a quiet town near the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains with outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, snowmobiling, golf, and rodeos. Rapid City, South Dakota is about an hour away. Wyoming has no income tax.

Open Until Filled

Hiring Bonus

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
• Retirement - Pension and 457B plans
• Flexible schedules and work-life balance options
• Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities

Essential Functions

• Responsible for documentation of project quantities and payment.
• Responsible for negotiating and securing agreements with landowners, government agencies, and consultants.
• Responsible for meeting the requirements of DEQ, BLM, USFS, and other agencies on projects.
• Coordinate and develop consensus among representatives of the city, county, federal, and the department, and the general public and special interest groups to address project impacts at the design and construction level.
• Research, locate, and negotiate materials, survey, water, and plant site agreements with private landowners, businesses, and government agencies.
• Generate special provisions for all projects to address issues unique to each project.
• Initiate and monitor consultant agreements and progress to provide various surveying and engineering services.
• Generate plans, summaries, and estimates for maintenance projects.
• Resolve and recommend a resolution of contractor disputes and claims.
• Review, generate, and negotiate change orders.
• Provide fundamental and supplemental training to subordinates.
• Responsible for determining equipment, workforce needs, and budget requirements.
• Manages, coordinates, and organizes field inspections, surveys, laboratory testing, material analysis, and quality control to ensure the project is constructed in accordance with plans and specifications.
• Prepares technical engineering studies and/or summaries for a variety of projects.
• Responsible for the development of plans and documents.
• Assures projects are completed in accordance with plans, specifications, and design criteria.
• Responsible for engineering recommendations and summaries for a variety of projects.
• Reviews and approves or rejects submittals.
• Ensures the work activities of the engineering staff meet project technical and policy requirements, state statutes, and federal regulations.
• Performs feasibility analysis to ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Coordinates with other programs, agencies, or outside entities; participates in value engineering studies and public meetings.
• Provides responses as the result of claims, lawsuits, or other public record requests.
• Prepares and coordinates budget recommendations.
• Conducts performance appraisals, makes hiring and firing recommendations, and conducts disciplinary actions.
• Train, develop, and mentor staff.
• Advises senior leaders regarding design and project budgets, design and schedules, and contracts.
• Develops and implements standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the engineering section.
• Participates in selection panels of architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Confers with the staff of agencies in other states or other government levels regarding joint actions taken or to be taken, or in exchange for vital or useful information; develops, reviews, and makes adjustments in a long‑range plan for agency (or major program) goals.
• Review blueprints, design plans, and specifications for technical merit and owner intent on all projects and quality control, functionality, readability, sustainability, and construction flow.
• Develops cost estimates for future projects to include design and construction costs; Advises senior leaders on the acquisition of engineering‑specific software, hardware, equipment, and materials.
• Affix the PE stamp to the work completed.

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Knowledge of engineering fundamentals relating to highway geometrics, hydraulic design, soil engineering, and construction practices.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of supervision, hiring, and firing.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering technical training and presentations.
• Able to communicate effectively through verbal and written means to relate specific concepts and ideas to outside agencies, public partners, and provide direction to engineers and technicians.
• Able to effectively plan, organize, oversee, and monitor work schedules and projects.
• Able to give attention and work under pressure.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering.

Experience: 2–4 years of progressive work experience (in Engineering) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Project Engineer.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Professional Engineer's (PE) License required at time of hire and within one year of hire date.

Special Requirements

• FLSA: Exempt
• The Wyoming Department of Transportation is a Drug‑Free Workplace.
• E‑Verify is used to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States; learn more about E‑Verify and your rights and responsibilities.
• This position will supervise the construction located in Sundance, Wyoming.
• The successful candidate may be eligible for moving expense reimbursement.
• Qualifying eligibility and criteria for the hiring bonus:
  • Temporary employees accepting a full‑time position.
  • Current employees accepting a promotional opportunity – recruitment must have been opened to the public.
  • One year of service to WYDOT must be completed; failure to complete this requirement will forfeit the hiring incentive and funds will be recouped from final pay.
  • Internal candidates would be required to remain in the position for a minimum of one year from their promotion date.
  • Employees would only be eligible for one hiring bonus in a 12‑month period.
  • If the employee elects to downgrade through an active recruitment and/or appointment during the twelve‑month period, they would be required to pay the bonus back.

Supplemental Information

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.